Mic preamp suggestions for around $500 for recording guitar?

  • Thread starter Thread starter dstroud
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dstroud

dstroud

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Been recording guitars for my new instrumental cd and I've always used the pre's on my Mackie 1202. Anybody have any ideas how good or bad the Mackies are? I do know they're way better than the pre's on my Digi Rack002. I'm thinking I'd like to upgrade - any suggestions for the $500 price range? Been thinking about the Golden Age Pre-73 but wanted to see if there were anymore suggestions.
 
brick is nice, magic happens at about double that budget, also single channel daking pre is great for high gain guitars
 
JakeAC5253":2w6swo2n said:
Groove Tubes Brick
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I actually have the Brick - I think there's something wrong with it. When I have my plexi cranked with no attenuation - which is how I like to record - even when the Brick knob is on 0 it's still in the red in Pro Tools. I need to get it to a tech I guess, but I'm not sure who would support those now.
 
I believe the Apogee Duet mic pres are pretty good as is. The issue is, can you live with only being able to use two inputs at a time? You also have to be using Apple as well. The Duet is very intuitive with Logic.
 
Gooseman":6shz7psn said:
I believe the Apogee Duet mic pres are pretty good as is. The issue is, can you live with only being able to use two inputs at a time? You also have to be using Apple as well. The Duet is very intuitive with Logic.
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Thanks, but I'm using windows.
 
A used Universal Audio Solo/610, used Grace 101, used Daking or a new Focusrite ISA One would do the trick!

If memory serves me right, the UA can be quite shimmery with nice character, the Grace is super clean and quite neutral, the Daking's have a good tone of their own with nice body and warmth if you will and the ISA One should be close to the 428, which had good mid punch and a pretty cool tone of its own.

It's too bad you don't have an API Lunchbox setup because you could probably score an API 512c used for $500, and it's the cat's meow on guitars!
 
Phrygian":2zimrly9 said:
A used Universal Audio Solo/610, used Grace 101, used Daking or a new Focusrite ISA One would do the trick!

If memory serves me right, the UA can be quite shimmery with nice character, the Grace is super clean and quite neutral, the Daking's have a good tone of their own with nice body and warmth if you will and the ISA One should be close to the 428, which had good mid punch and a pretty cool tone of its own.

It's too bad you don't have an API Lunchbox setup because you could probably score an API 512c used for $500, and it's the cat's meow on guitars!
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thanks man! I was thinking ISA One just because I know I can get a super deal from GC. I looked at the API stuff, but I'm just tyring to decide how much to spend since I'm only using Pro Tools LE and not really sure how much of an improvement it will make.
 
I use a FMR audio RNP. I have liked, its right in your price range. Its hard to find a mic pre in the middle price range. Most are either sub $250 or $1000+.
 
Golden Age Projects Pre 73 is a very nice Neve 1073 clone.
The ISA One is cool too. Make sure you get the digital version and you get nice ADC too.
 
I have 2 Golden Age Pre-73's and like them a lot, if you want to hear a a song PM me. Me setup is a motu 8 pre firewire interface with 2 Golden Age Pre-73's and a SM57 and Senhiesser e609.
 
dstroud":1vsj0eyv said:
Phrygian":1vsj0eyv said:
A used Universal Audio Solo/610, used Grace 101, used Daking or a new Focusrite ISA One would do the trick!

If memory serves me right, the UA can be quite shimmery with nice character, the Grace is super clean and quite neutral, the Daking's have a good tone of their own with nice body and warmth if you will and the ISA One should be close to the 428, which had good mid punch and a pretty cool tone of its own.

It's too bad you don't have an API Lunchbox setup because you could probably score an API 512c used for $500, and it's the cat's meow on guitars!
Click to expand...

thanks man! I was thinking ISA One just because I know I can get a super deal from GC. I looked at the API stuff, but I'm just tyring to decide how much to spend since I'm only using Pro Tools LE and not really sure how much of an improvement it will make.
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No prob! And actually, aftec made a good point to check out the ISA One Digital. That will make a big difference with your Digi 002 as the 002's stock converters aren't the greatest.

The API 512c would still sound great through a stock 002 but even better if you had good converters. I'll tell yeah, the first time I heard an API preamp it was eargasmic. That's going back some ways now but it's still a great preamp amongst the heavy hitters today.
 
reilly":h0jpo5um said:
I have 2 Golden Age Pre-73's and like them a lot, if you want to hear a a song PM me. Me setup is a motu 8 pre firewire interface with 2 Golden Age Pre-73's and a SM57 and Senhiesser e609.
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That looks like a killer preamp for the money. :rock:
 
im very content with the Golden Age Pre-73's, i have been using them for about 2 years now, i liked the one so much i bought a second.
 
I have used the digi002 pre's, Grace Design 101, & GAP PRE73. All sounded good. The Grace 101 is pretty colorless. My next pre to buy is going to be a Great River MP-2NV. I hear they are great with guitars in combination with using a Shure SM57 and a Royer R121. It's a little over your budget but I would give the Great River MP-1NV a try.

Chuck
 
The Great River is fantastic! Can be clean or pushed for some color. Silky smooth, killer bottom end. Love the GR and I need to buy one again. I sold my API Lunchbox last year with modules to fund my Herbert. No regrets but I do miss my killer pres and EQ's.
 
True Systems P-Solo
Here's a link to a shootout with 3 $500.00 preamps
//ronansrecordingshow.com/2009/10/3-mic-pres-under-500-black-lion-audio-true-systems-and-fmr-audio/
The address wouldn't paste correct, just add http: to the beginning og the above adress
 
jack butler":2qmzxk9u said:
True Systems P-Solo
Here's a link to a shootout with 3 $500.00 preamps
//ronansrecordingshow.com/2009/10/3-mic-pres-under-500-black-lion-audio-true-systems-and-fmr-audio/
The address wouldn't paste correct, just add http: to the beginning og the above adress
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Thanks for the link, really enjoyed it. I needed 2 channels, so I don't feel too bad about picking the FMR audio RNP. Too bad they raised the price on the P-solo, but still seems like a good deal.


http://ronansrecordingshow.com/2009/10/ ... fmr-audio/
 
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